Ray Earnest was a dedicated Exchangite having served his own club, The Exchange Club of Miami, in many capacities and the Florida District as its President.
The need to provide young people with an opportunity to address themselves to the challenges confronting our democratic institutions was realized and the first contest was conducted by the Miami Exchange Club in 1946.
The American Citizenship Public Speaking Contest was subsequently adopted as a part of the Florida District Program to encourage an understanding of the rights, privileges and responsibilities which are fundamental to our democratic process.
In recognition of his unselfish interest in American Citizenship and the ideals of American youth, in 1970 the District Board directed that the scholarship awarded each year to the outstanding contestant shall be known as the Ray Earnest Memorial Scholarship.
SEE MRS. CURRAN IN GUIDANCE FOR AN APPLICATION